Dallas' Paul Quinn College has broken ground on its first new building in 40 years.

The historically black southern Dallas university is constructing a 40,000-square-foot educational and residential building with the help of $7 million in contributions.

The multipurpose building will be named after one of the university's biggest benefactors, Dallas businessman and environmentalist Trammell S. Crow, who has donated millions to the school — his $4.4 million gift in 2014 was the largest in Paul Quinn's history.

"That community is near and dear to my heart," Crow said. "I realized a few years ago that the time was right for the Dallas community and business leaders to support this college.

"I'm so proud to have my name on that dormitory and learning center," he said. "I have an honorary degree from that college which I cherish."

Funding for the Trammell S. Crow Living and Learning Center was also provided by the Simmons Foundation, the Hillcrest Foundation, the Paul Quinn College National Alumni Association, Houston-based Church Without Walls and others.

And $11.5 million for the project was provided by the Texas Mezzanine Fund, a community development financial institution and community development entity that promotes economic growth in low and moderate-income communities.

RBA Architects designed the new building, and Crimson Building Company and Burchfield & Partners are developers of the project.

"The Crow Living and Learning Center will be the first of many new structures built on this campus," Paul Quinn College President Michael Sorrell said in a statement. Sorrell is credited with turning around the college and its financial fortunes after taking charge of the 146-acre campus, a few miles south of downtown Dallas, in 2007. Among other things, Sorrell turned the campus football field into a two-acre urban farm that supplies organic vegetables to high-end restaurants.

Located on Simpson Stuart Road near Interstate 45, Paul Quinn College dates to the late 1800s. The school, which was founded by a group of African Methodist Episcopal Church preachers, is the oldest historically black college west of the Mississippi River. It was established to serve the educational needs of freed slaves and their children.

The school moved from Waco to Dallas in 1990 and took over the site of Bishop College.

In the last decade, Paul Quinn College has undertaken a redevelopment of the campus, tearing down some unused buildings and planning for new ones. The university, with a student body of about 500, just completed refurbishment of a new lecture hall and auditorium.